The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1887-10-29

of room to work in. In ten minutes the iot
was finished. The slab was off, DISPLAYING
gap wide enough for man to mass
through. The voices now sounded more
distinct; it was, in fact, the two old maids
we had heard.
Boys" said the leader in a whisper. 81
have just the thing.n And opening cup.
board he drew out superb skeleton. adj
mirably put together, which our master
used in teaching us the secrets of anatomy.
eve answered by smothered laugh. All
understood what he meant to do.
Sin the twirkling of an eye, rope was
attached to the shoulders of the skeleton.
We then passed it, feet foremost, through
the hole in the chimney, paying out the
rope just as one lets bucket down well.
"In less than ten seconds two terrified
shrieks broke on our ears. After that all
was still as churchyard, downstairs. The
two frightened old maids had tainted dead
away. | found this out three DAYS later
from the concierge's son, who gave me all
the particulars.
"Their first thought when, by slapping
the palms Of their hands and by the use OF
smelling salts, their servant had brought
them back to their senses, was to send for
the landlord and inform him that there
were ghosts in his house. The worthy
man, having no recollection of having
signed rent receipts for that kind of ten
ants, doubted the veracity OF their state
ments and wished to see the apparition
with his own eyes. Consequently, be
called on them the next day at the hour
the spirit was supposed to show itself.
"What was his stupefaction, when, after
waiting about twenty minutes, he saw two.
shinbones terminated by two ossfsslats6
feet, dancing the jig OF death in his fire.
place. The three remaining hairs on the
top of his head suddenly stood on end. He
clapped on his hat to keep them down and
few as fast as his legs could carry HIM to
the commissary of police
1.-THE following day, at the ereutful hour,
we were all listening al The open hole,
when strange noise broke 1pon our ears.
1t sounded like scratching n the chimney
flue, coming nearer and neanr each minute.
After awhile voice, witha Savoyard &C
cent came up: Hey! PetitPierrer 'Heyp
replied childish voice. Don't you see
any thingP No. nothing We'll, go up
higher them and the scratching COM
was a sweep in the chimney.
owe looked at each oiher, and without a
word we exchanged few signs. They
were understood. Twp of US took posi-
tions one on each side of the opening. A
minute later the unkenpt, black head of
ten-year-old boy CAM through the hole,
opening his eyes so vide that they looked
like lotto balls. Onsi two a hand was
l. 1NxuyA NLa,- ko, 10,
grabbed him by the shoulder. Houpl he
was pulled out and stood on the studio
floor, frightened to death and trembling
like leaf, but as dumb as an oyster from
being gagged by the hand that sealed his
lips.
"'Hey Petit-Pierrep continued the VOICE
at the foot of the chimney. Hey! Petit
Pierre, why don't you answers"
answering was quite out Of the question
with Peit-Pierre just then.
ga voice whispered in his ear tempting
offer: "A hundred sous are yours, if you
will run home without saying any thing!
And if you keep your promise, you may
come back tomorrow and get one hundred
more
''The boy made sign that he accepted
the offer. He started off with his brlbe as
II he had the wings of a bird, while from
the bottom Of the chimney came the voice
of the other, shouting himself hoarse in
tones that seemed fraught with uneasiness:
"Hey Petit-Pierre, why don't you answerP
"In less time than it takes to relate it
the skeleton was returned to tbs closet
which we took good care to lock and then
conceal the key. The slab was fastened
back in its place and each one sat down in
front of his easel. The comissaryof police
came in quarter of an hour later, and
found US all i'll this edirying position.
WAS the mystery ever cleared up by the
policel We never learned. All we did
hoar was that the two old maids became
i'll from the effets of the scare, and that
when they got over their sickness the first
thing they did was to give the landlord
notice."
"Wellr' exclaimed Mr.. Robinet, with a
look of admiration, "before sending off
your pupils, my dear fellow, it seems to me
that you should wait until they get off a
joke Of the same calber as yours"
eyes" added Mr.. Boudinier, 'only fear
you will have to wait a pretty long whileI''
Joseph .Ioaatet, in N. 0, TnaeS-Democy0t.